By Sardar Khan NiaziPakistan’s emergence as a central diplomatic broker between Washington and Tehran marks a rare moment of strategic opportunity — one that could extend beyond ceasefire management into the far more consequential terrain of nuclear restraint. Recent signals from ongoing engagements suggest that a “breakthrough” on the nuclear question, long the most intractable element of US-Iran tensions, may no longer be implausible. Pakistani officials, engaged in intensive shuttle diplomacy, have conveyed cautious optimism that negotiations are inching toward a framework that addresses enrichment limits, sanctions relief, and verification mechanisms in tandem. This optimism must be tempered. The history of US-Iran nuclear diplomacy is littered with near misses, reversals, and maximalist positions. Even now, the gap remains wide: Washington is reportedly seeking long-term curbs on Iran’s enrichment program, while Tehran insists on recognition of its right to peaceful nuclear activity and shorter-term constraints. Yet the significance of the present moment lies not in the narrowing of differences alone, but in the architecture of mediation, that Pakistan has helped construct. Islamabad’s approach has been incremental, pragmatic, and deliberately understated. Rather than forcing grand bargains, it has focused on sequencing — first securing a ceasefire, then sustaining dialogue, and now nudging both sides toward issue-specific understandings. This mirrors classic diplomatic practice: reduce immediate risks, create space for negotiation, and only then attempt structural agreements. Crucially, the nuclear file has re-entered discussions not as an isolated dispute, but as part of a broader de-escalatory package. Reports suggest that interim arrangements — such as partial export of highly enriched uranium or time-bound enrichment caps — are being explored as confidence-building measures. Such steps fall short of a comprehensive deal, but they may represent the only politically viable path forward in the current climate. Pakistan’s role here is not accidental. Its ability to maintain working relations with both Tehran........

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